Dual Meet

At a dual meet, two teams compete against each other. The coaches will choose three swimmers plus one alternate in each age group to swim for team points in each event. Swimmers may be entered in a maximum of three individual events and two relays. A relay team consist of four swimmers of the same age group. At all meets, exhibition heats will be swum in some strokes for swimmers who are not swimming for team points.

Each dual meet consists of 62 events and will last anywhere from 2 – 3 hours. The order of the events is always the same:

1. Freestyle
2. Breaststroke
3. Medley Relay
4. Individual Medley
5. Backstroke
6. Butterfly
7. Freestyle Relay
8. Announcement of the Winning Team

Times will be recorded for all swimmers at the meets – exhibition and point swimmers alike. 

* Important Note: The place judges mark the finish places for each heat. The judges' decisions take precedence over recorded times.

HEAT SHEET

• The heat sheet will be available around 2:00 prior to the meet via SwimTopia. It is important to review this with your swimmer ahead of time.

• The swimmers should write their events down for easy reference (arm or leg). E=event #, H= heat #, L=lane #. It can be helpful to make a fourth column with the distance and stroke.
• The younger kids need their age, first initial, and last name written on their shoulder blade.

MEET ETIQUETTE

• Let the coaches coach. You are the cheerleader. Stay off the deck and cheer from afar.
• Cheer for the kids. All of them. Swimming is hard work. It is respectful and helpful to be silent during starts (and during diving) but feel free to cheer during and after a race.
• Remember to encourage your swimmer even if they did not win their heat or race. There are dozens of personal victories to celebrate at each meet. Here are a few things to celebrate: taking fewer breaths, improved stroke or technique, doing a flip turn, noticing how they are getting stronger, making it to the end of the pool, time improvement, remembering to touch the wall, improved dives, diving off the block, etc.

Meet Tips

• Be on deck 15 minutes before warm-ups to check in with your coach and prepare.
• Listen carefully to meet announcements. The officials will NOT call out names or delay the race if you are late.
• 10 and under will report to the bullpen before their race. Please try to have them there at least two events prior to their swim. If they are swimming Event #26, have them there when they start calling #24.
• Be sure to watch for notifications from the Swimtopia app. This form of communication will be used on occasion if we are unable to locate a swimmer for their event.
• New swimmers that are older than 10 can also report to the bullpen if swimming is brand new for them. Our volunteers will help them out if needed.
• If something does happen and you miss an event, go directly to the bullpen and they will take you to the head official (wearing white shirt, usually with a whistle). If you are lucky, you may be able to get into another heat.
• Check-in with your coach after every swim.
• Follow the advice of your coach about warm-up and warm-down activities (it may be different for every swimmer)
• Wait in the pool until everyone from the heat is finished swimming. It is always good sportsmanship to shake hands or congratulate the swimmers around you at the end of the heat/meet.

SWIMMER SELF-CARE

Sleep is the body’s way of healing itself, eight to nine hours each night. Water - drink it. It is hard to swim well on a full stomach, but you do need fuel. Eat healthy the day before and throughout the day of the practice/meet so you have the energy to perform well. Refuel with healthy calories 15-30 minutes after a swim to avoid a slump. Be an athlete that works hard and has fun!

WHAT TO BRING TO A MEET

• Prepare to travel to the meet, especially if it's an away meet. 
• Be prepared with extra swim equipment such as goggles, caps, and towels.
• Bring snacks, drinks, tents, and chairs for comfort during the meet. 
• Bring heat sheets, Sharpies, and highlighters to keep track of events and swimmers. 
• Sunscreen, ear plugs, first aid necessities like band-aids.
• Volunteer to help with various tasks during the meet. 
• Be supportive of all swimmers, regardless of the outcome of their races.  
• Be respectful of coaches, officials, volunteers, and other teams. 
• Don't hesitate to ask questions if you're unsure about anything.
• Most importantly, have fun! 

Swimming meets are a unique experience and should be enjoyed by swimmers and families alike. Swimming can be a bit different from other sports, and for new swim families, there may be some unknowns that can cause unnecessary stress. However, with these tips in mind, you can make the most of your swim meet experience and turn it into an enjoyable family activity.

TEAM CHEER

The team will meet together at the start of each meet for the team cheer. After the cheer, the first 3 events will immediately report to the bullpen.